Abstract: Disclosed are composite structures prepared using a hemicellulose-based adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, a laminate composed of plural laminae which have been bonded to one another using a hemicellulose-based adhesive is provided. The laminate is useful as a separator or partition in a shipping vessel. Most preferably, the hemicellulose-based adhesive contains one or more bonding agents and water., the hemicellulose being present in an amount of at least 10% by dry basis weight of the bonding agents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a concrete composition that comprises water, a cementitious material, and an aggregate material, the aggregate material comprising a granular starch. In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, the granular starch is a washed, pre-swollen starch, and is added to the composition in an amount ranging from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the cementitious material. The starch granules are swollen in the uncured composition but liberate water and shrink to their unswollen size as the concrete cures, thus providing a cured lightweight concrete. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a concrete composition. The disclosed method comprises providing starch granules, mixing the starch granules with water and a cementitious material to form an uncured concrete composition, and subsequently curing the uncured concrete composition thus formed.

Abstract: Disclosed are composite structures prepared using a hemicellulose-based adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, a laminate composed of plural laminae which have been bonded to one another using a hemicellulose-based adhesive is provided. The laminate is useful as a separator or partition in a shipping vessel. Most preferably, the hemicellulose-based adhesive contains one or more bonding agents and water., the hemicellulose being present in an amount of at least 10% by dry basis weight of the bonding agents.